Author: Moviewarrior

I am an IT Professional who has loved the movie going experience since Kindergarten. My favorite Genres are Action, Suspense/Thrillers, Drama, Sci-Fi, Animation, Art House and Romantic Comedies.

Run All Night

I thought the weekend was going to slip by before I could see “Run All Night”. I have been severely under the weather with an Acute Sinus Infection and on Antibiotics. Heavily medicated I was NOT going to let a Liam Neeson movie pass by if I could help it. So off to the movies I went late this Sunday afternoon.

Liam Neeson plays Jimmy Conlon, a mob hit-man in this crime thriller. He and his estranged son Mike Conlon (Joel Kinnaman) are fleeing the wrath of a vengeful crime boss, Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris) after Jimmy kills Shawn Maguire’s son in self defense to save his own son, Mike. The story unfolds from there…

There are lots of twists and turns and intrigue. It’s in your face violence. There are some interest stunts and moves, but nothing to far out of the way that it’s totally unbelievable.
The only strange element is actor Common playing a sort of “Cyborg” Hit Man. He is out of place here…Common is good looking and debonair. He should stick to the “Lover” type roles. He does not transcend to bad guy very well.

If you like Crime Suspense Thrillers and Liam Neeson, “Run All Night” is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, is a sequel to the 2011 “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Now that the hotel is full with long term residents, co-managers Muriel and Sonny (Maggie Smith and Dev Patel) have dreams of expansion.

This movie highlights the journey that Muriel and Sonny take to get the expansion completed.
At best the movie is “Ho-hum”. I was a bit bored. It does pick up during the last 20 minutes.

“The Second Best Marigold Hotel” is best viewed on DVD, Cable or Blu-ray

This is a 2 1/2 Star Movie!

Chappie

From the makers of “District 9”, “Chappie” has great visual interest and there are a few very interesting scenes toward the end, but that is about it. It’s a bit of a let-down. I expected more.

Crime is patrolled by Police Droids in the city of Johannesburg. Something happens and the Droids are taken off line and the people start to fight back.

One of the Droids (Chappie) is stolen and given a new program. this new program allows Chappie to think and feel for himself. Seen as a potential danger, a destructive force sets out to stop Chappie and end all other Droid forces. The story unfolds from there…

The movie does have its moments, but there are too many holes left unfilled and the dialog is in shambles.

This is a 1 1/2 Star Movie!

Focus

“Focus” is about a con-artist who takes on an apprentice, they become romantically involved, sensing things were getting too deep he breaks it off and then years later she gets in the way of a his biggest score.

I am sure the concept on paper reads well, but on the big screen this movie was lost to me. There were way too many “twists” and not enough “turns”. The ending was even weird.

There was about 25 minutes of real intrigue and then I was bored.

“Focus” was billed as a Drama/Comedy. I failed to find anything funny about the movie.

It’s been a while since Will Smith has made a movie that I liked. I guess that drought will continue.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

McFarland, USA

Based on a true story, “McFarland, USA” is about how the economically challenged 1987 McFarland High School Cross Country team beat the odds to become a power house and go on to win 9 State Championships in 14 years.

The story is engaging, intriguing and quite entertaining. This is an excellent Disney production.

Kevin Costner was excellent as Coach Jim White.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Based on a comic book, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is about a very secret Spy Organization that is in need of fresh recruits, so they can continue to stay ahead of the latest global threats. The organization recruits a kid off the streets, but he isn’t just any kid; his father was a member of “The Secret Service” and he gave his life years ago to save his fellow team members.

The recruitment process is ultra competitive and at times it’s questionable as to whether any of the 6 recruits will rise to the top, but some do just in time because there is a Tech Genius who is launching a threat. The story unfolds from there…

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is entertaining, thrilling, action packed and suspenseful.

There are some interesting special effects and some cool cinematography.
The movie is diminished a bit by some intense killing sprees, but other than that it’s very good.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is worth a look.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Fifty Shades of Grey

“Mr. Grey Will See You Now”. Christian Grey finally jumps off the pages of the best selling E.L. James novel and onto the big screen.

Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) is a senior in college. She has an assignment to interview the good looking, young multi-billionaire of the conglomerate “Grey House”. She arrives and after meeting and talking with Mr. Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), Anastasia is intrigued. Little does Anastasia know, she has made a serious impression on Mr. Grey

Christian Grey shows up where Anastasia works and indicates he would like to get to know her better. She has no idea what she’s getting herself into. The story unfolds from there…

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is nothing more than a keen play on S & M. There is nothing romantic about pain and torture. Aside from the fact that at times there was a lot of steam and fireworks between Christian and Anastasia, the movie it’s self was “Grey”.

Actress Dakota Johnson does an excellent job of playing a naive, innocent young woman.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is a Trilogy. A sequel has already been announced.

The movie will take in some serious cash this weekend even though it’s going up against “Kingsmen: The Secret Service” (I will review tomorrow).

Check it out for yourself. YOU be the judge.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Black Sea

You are a rouge submarine captain who has just been laid off. Your family left you because of the job and now the job leaves you.

You have been contacted about a rumored sunken treasure in the Black Sea. You put together a misfit crew of merry men that you believe represent the best in their position as it pertains to a submarine.

There is money to be made if you find the treasure. So off you and your crew go. Time passes as you travel under sea heading toward the location site. Desperation and greed take control as uncertainty sets in among the crew. The story unfolds from there…

“Black Sea” is not the very best “Suspense Thriller”, but it is a very good one. Two time Oscar Nominee; Jude Law is awesome as the rouge submarine captain. The movie is entertaining and gloomy all as the same time.
“Black Sea” was directed by Academy Award Winning Director Kevin McDonald.

If you like “Suspense Thrillers”, “Black Sea” is worth a look.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!!

Jupiter Ascending 3D

“Jupiter Ascending” is spectacular from a visual point of view. Too bad that’s as good as it gets.

Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) was born under the night sky with signs that predicted she was destined for great things. Jupiter grows up to live what appears to be a dull mundane life. Then one day Caine (Channing Tatum) an ex-Military Hunter comes to earth to track her down. Jupiter soon finds out that a greater fate awaits her on another planet. The story unfolds from there…

The story and plot are not set, so you have no clue as to the reasoning for some of the events that take place in the movie. It’s only after the first 45 minutes that you start to piece the puzzle together, but it still does not make sense.
As I stated earlier the visual effects are great. There is a lot of action and nice special effects. The problem with “Jupiter Ascending” is that the story isn’t put into context soon enough. There is too much bewilderment.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Black or White

Imagine losing your seventeen year old daughter when she is giving birth and then losing your wife in a tragic traffic accident. All you have left is your granddaughter.
The extended family hasn’t really been part of your granddaughter’s life and definitely not her biological father, but now that your wife has died, the extended family wants to play a bigger role. They even want sole custody.
This is what the movie “Black or White” is about although during some parts of the movie it becomes more about “Black or White”.

The story is a bit disjointed. You have to piece it together bit by bit. The movie is not bad. At times it’s rather entertaining. The young lady (Jillian Estell) who portrays the granddaughter Eloise Anderson is cute and adorable. She plays well with Kevin Costner.

The paid critics were rather harsh about “Black or White”. I think it deserves a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!